twowheels00

Well, I just installed my new COBB bars this evening, used your advice vel0mac! Got my parts from McMaster, and the install went just fine. After a couple days of driving, I'll check it again.

 

Also installed the COBB DA STS. Got it set on the shortest throw, but I think it might be too much....

Blue Sedan (non-turbo), debadged, turning from Scottsdale onto Clear Acre in Reno, yesterday!!

Red LGT wagon at RSC in Reno, you must be on a softball team!!

Speaking of Reno: White LGT Wagon, chrome rims, in the Target parking lot south of Carson City.....

Two spottings

 

1) Reno, Epley Lane, white LGT. I'm in a silver OBXT with a roof rack. Spotting was a couple of weeks ago.

 

2) Friday, 1/13, 12 noon, near Energy Way in Reno, Blue LGT

I'm using a Pioneer AirWare for XM (its an XM2go), and jazzy's tie in board. My volume levels have to be about double on my car stereo to get the same output in the car compared to a music CD. The line out level on my XM is at max. I'm guessing that because this unit is an XM2go its line out levels are much lower than other XM systems (SkiFi or Roady). When I run my XM through the built in FM transmitter, volume levels are even when compared to a CD.

 

Anyone else out there using an XM2go system (MyFi or AirWare) and seeing the same response? I would like to have the volume levels the same across the board, but I never really turn them up really high anyways.

 

I requred a GLI in the system also, the noise was loud.

My setup is a Pioneer AirWare (just like the SkiFi) and a Dell Axim X50 powered with the same cigarette adapter (which is soldered to the cigarette lighter). Ground loop noise is present, but not for long.

 

Jazzy, I think you might have a valid point here. My system is portable, has its own battery, and is a 3.7V battery, so it is very likely that it holds its own ground and doesn't tie into the 12V ground of the car. Either way, isolation is the answer, and a safe bet no matter what the setup.

I think it's a kind of transformer...not much chance of making that yourself. If you want to go on the uber cheap, there's always this:

 

http://www.electronicgiant.net/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=65_262&products_id=4772

 

I think metra makes a ground loop isolator you can find on ebay for $2-5 too. You should be ok with just one between the radio & your audio components though. I think if you use two you'll isolate your GPS from your XM and it won't draw the audio lines down to "speak" anymore. ...could be wrong..

 

True Dat, I would only need one. That makes it a lot better. I'll stop crying now...

Here's an 1/8" jack ground loop isolator from crutchfield. It would save you from using a bunch of additional adapters anyway.

 

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-2zHfprbKImd/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=181150&I=127SNI135&search=ground+loop

I wish I knew what was different about our setup though & how to properly eliminate the ground loop. My radio didn't have that extra ground wire, but I do have the factory sub...? You could try using different grounding points all day for your power, but ground loops are one of those aggrivating things where you may never figure out the source unfortunately and $10-20 is a fair price to pay for something that will likely come in handy for years to come. I may pick one up for my notebook actually because I know the cigarette charger for that causes noise too.

 

Ouch, pricey!! And I would need two of them to be safe. I'd rather figure out what's inside that little box and make one myself. One of the engineers here is also a car stereo guru, I'll ask him.

Actually, I'm using my XM for music, and my PDA for GPS. So what is actually happening is my XM input is being cut off momentarily to hear what my lady-friend GPS is saying, and then comes back on....

 

No connection between PDA and XM, only the stereo patch cables which plug into a Y which plugs into my new aux in board.

 

As far as the ground loop thing, I'll figure it out, thanks for the input.

Here's what I tried initially:

 

1) hardwired to both pos and neg of cig lighter (I soldered them to the cigarette lighter) - noise.

 

2) hardwired positive to cigarette lighter (soldered), ground to chassis (bolt over the transmission, metal on metal) - noise

 

3) put my cig charger back together the way it was - noise

 

I don't mind trying a jumper for the audio lines, but I'd rather not if possible (I suppose they are shielded.

 

Any input or suggestions to fix this?

 

With power plugged in, everything works great, I am also using the aux in for my PDA with GPS, so music is playing, and when my GPS wants to tell me to turn, the music momentarily cuts off, GPS speaks, and then music comes back on!! That was an added feature, don't even know why that happens.

 

Thanks

Hey, just installed this little bugger last night, for use with my XM and PDA. When I have the power adapter (cigarette lighter style) plugged into my XM I get this high pitched noise, and it goes up and down with the engine. No noise without the power plugged in.

 

I'm guessing a ground loop? What is the best way to cure that?

Got the board yesterday and installed it last night. The instructions were so good I could have done it with my eyes closed!! Excellent work. And kudos for including a silent CD.